Incumbent Bailey Zappe has emerged as Houston Baptist's top-rated quarterback. On Friday, Huskies football coach Vic Shealy named Zappe the team's starter following a close competition over fellow sophomore Andrew Haidet.

"He's really playing well and we have high expectations for him," Shealy said of Zappe, who as a freshman last year started 10 games and set school single-season passing marks for yards (1,548) and completions (150). "It was amazing how close the numbers were with Andrew."

According to Shealy, in the first week of practice that started Aug. 2, Zappe (6-2, 180) took the lead. Haidet (6-4, 215) surged ahead the following week. By Friday's 20th practice session, Zappe had gone back in front as the top quarterback.

"It was as close as it possibly could get. At the end of the day, we're comfortable with the decision," said Shealy, whose Huskies are coming off a 1-10 season. "We feel great because of that competition. We got another guy (Haidet) we have confidence that he can lead us also.

"We are of the philosophy that you name a starter and that guy is your guy. Certainly, history has shown that throughout the course of a season you're going to need two quarterbacks to win ballgames. So we're going to prepare Andrew as if he's a starter.

"I think when the season is over and we look back, you'll see that both Andrew and Bailey both contributed. I'm really comfortable with where we're at with both of those guys."

Haidet separated a shoulder against Stephen F. Austin and missed spring football due to the injury.

HBU, which opens its season on Sept. 1 at home against Southwest Baptist, is breaking in a spread Air Raid offense under first-year offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. The Huskies are hopeful of getting between 85-90 offensive snaps a game.